Despite being the standout player for the Boston Celtics in the 2023-24 season, Jayson Tatum surprisingly did not make the starting lineup for Team USA in their Paris Olympics 2024 opener against Serbia. This decision led to some playful ribbing from former NBA star Dwight Howard.
Howard, who now plays for the Taiwan Mustangs in the Asian Tournament, took to social media to poke fun at Tatum. He humorously invited Tatum to join his league and form a championship-caliber team with him and another former NBA star, DeMarcus Cousins.
“Jayson we could use another champ. In my league! You could hoop like this,” Howard wrote on his X account.
Jayson we could use another champ
In my league 🤷🏾♂️ ! You could hoop like this ➡️ https://t.co/YRj0pLQNCV if you came 😅 pic.twitter.com/dVDKxjEFFK— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) July 30, 2024
Tatum’s absence from the starting lineup was not entirely unexpected, given Team USA’s roster, which includes veteran stars. Head coach Steve Kerr had to make tough decisions, and Tatum was left out of the initial lineup. Kerr later expressed his regret over not starting the Celtics star.
Despite Tatum’s absence from the starting five, Team USA dominated their opening game, securing a 110-84 victory over Nikola Jokic’s Team Serbia.
Will Jayson Tatum Play Against Team Sudan?
After facing criticism for not including Jayson Tatum in the starting lineup for Team USA’s Olympics opener, head coach Steve Kerr has made it clear that Tatum will play in the next game. As Team USA prepares to face South Sudan, Kerr addressed the media about Tatum’s status.
“Jayson will play (Wednesday),” Kerr confirmed.
Kerr mentioned that he had spoken to Tatum before the first game to explain his decision. The head coach also emphasized the importance of keeping all players ready and engaged.
“I’m not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn’t. But we’re going to need him, and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready, because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens,” Kerr added.
Team USA’s next game against South Sudan is scheduled for Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET. Fans are eager to see Tatum back on the court and to witness how he contributes to the team’s pursuit of Olympic gold.
